ELVIEA. 273 



The birds belonging to this genus were formerly placed either in Thaumantias 

 {■=-Agyrtria) or Eupherusa, to neither of which genera do they strictly belong. Agyrtria 

 has the tomia of the maxilla very feebly serrate, moreover the lateral rectrices are not 

 white at the base. Eupherusa, on the other hand, though resembling Elvira in many 

 points of structure, has a comparatively longer and less curved bill. Both species of 

 Elvira are found exclusively in Costa Eica and the State of Panama. 



1. Elvira chionura. 



Trochilus {Thaumatias?) chionura, Gould, P. Z. S. 1850, p..l62\ 



Thaumatias chionm-us, Gould, Mon. Troch. v. t. 300 (May 1853)''; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. 



p. 349 \ 

 Thaumantias chionura, Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 156 ^j 1870, p. 210'. 

 Eupherusa chionura, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 127 ^ 



Elvira chionura, Muls. Hist. Nat. Ois.-Mouehes, i. p. 166^; Salv. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 75 '. 

 Eupherusa niveicauda, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 134'. 



Supra saturate nitenti-gramineo-viridis, tectricibus supracaudalibus longioribiis et rectricibus mediis cupreo- 

 viridibus : subtus micanti-gramineo-viridis, fronte stricte et genis ooneoloribus, abdomine imo et tectri- 

 cibus subcaudalibus albis ; eaudse rectricibus tribus utrinque lateralibus albis, chalybeo-nigro terminatis : 

 rostri maxilla uigra, mandibula albicante apice nigra. Long, tota 3-3, ate 2"0, caudsB 1-15, rostri a 

 rietu 0-7. 



5 supra mari simUis : subtus alba, plumis cerricis et latemm macula discaK viridi notatds, rectricibus utrinque 

 tribus albis, fascia subterminali obliqua nigra notatis. (Descr. maris et feminse ex Chiriqui, Panama. 

 Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Costa Rica, Dota^^ [Carmiol^); Panajta, near David (Warszewiez^^), Volcan de 

 Chiriqui^, Calovevora^ (ArcS). 



This species was discovered by Warszewiez near David in Chiriqui, and was 

 described by Gould in 1850 ^. The types (a male and a female) are in the National 

 collection. "VYith them a number of other specimens from the same district and from 

 Costa Kica agree in every particular. 



A Costa Rica example sent by Carmiol from Dota was described by Mr. Lawrence 

 as E. niveicauda in 1865^, but its identity with E. chionura was soon recognized 3. 



2. Elvira cupreiceps. 



Eupherusa cupreiceps, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 348 ' ; ix. p. 127 ^ 



Elvira cupreiceps, Muls. Hist. Nat. Ois.-Mouehes, i. p. 268^; Gould, Mon. Troch. Suppl. t. 53 



(Aug. 1880)*; Zeledon, An. Mus. Nae. Costa Rica, 1887, p. 122'; Salv. Cat. Birds Brit. 



Mtis. xvi. p. 75 *. 



E. chionurce similis, sed rostro breviore et magis arcuato, pileo et rectricibus duabus mediis saturate cupreis 

 illius plumis nigro limbatis, rectricibus omnibus (prseter duas medias) plus minusve albis fusco terminatis : 

 rostri maxilla nigra, mandibulse dimidio basali albido. Long, tota 3"3, alse 2-0, caudae 1'15, rostri 0-7. 

 2 feminsB E. chionurce similis, pileo et Cauda supra cupreis et forma rostris differt. 



Ilab. Costa Rica (Carmiol, Endres), Barranca [Carmiol^, Zeledon, in U.S. Nat. Mus.), 

 Tucurriqui (Arce^), Nai-anjo de Cartago {Zeledon^). 

 BIOL. CE^'TB.-AMEK., Aves, Vol. II., May 1892. 35 



